Portable house



Oct. 24, 1950 c. w. KINSMAN 2,527,012

PORTABLE HOUSE Filed June 21, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 '3 B INVEN TOR.

Oct. 24, 1950 c. w. KINSMAN PORTABLE HOUSE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1947 IN V EN TOR.

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BY (Kare/Ice Wl'lllkmz Kips/n01? I H I I 1 i' i 1' I l l f:jl

C. W. KINSMAN PORTABLE HOUSE Oct. 24, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 21, 1947 a m U I N V EN TOR. (Varmme William fi'flsmafl c. w. KIINSMAN PORTABLE HOUSE Oct. 24-, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 21, 1947 Patented Oct. 24, 195

UNITED PATENT OFFICE is 2,527,012 PORTAB House Clarence William Kinsman, New York, N. Applicationv June 21, 1947, Serial N 0.17 56,231

' 3 Claims. (01., 2807-80) 1 g This invention relates to portable houses and has for. its object the provision of a two-story portable house having a demountable roof and demountable wheels which is adapted to be constructed at an assembly point andto be moved to a building site for temporary or permanent location upon a foundation. q 7

Another object is to provide a small-sized twostory dwelling having a -demQ lntable roof and demountablefront and rear wheels adapted. to be readily transportedjor moved along the usual type highways for temporary or permanent location on a building site. 1

A further object 'lsrto. Provide a relatively inexpensive portable house to meet the present housing emergency.

Other objects will be apparent as the invention is more fully hereinafter disclosed. I

, In accordancewith these objects I have designed a portable house which is primarily adapted to meet quickly and economically the presenthousing shortage, insofar as that shortage can be met for small sized families and by the pro;- vision of the essential living space therefor. The portable house of the present inventionis designed for mass construction at a central manufacturing pointand for towing transport over the standard sizes and types of roads and hlghways found in settled areas, such as large civic centers, for delivery to a building site whereon it may be quickly and economically setupon a temporary foundation and connected to the usual utilities for prompt-occupation by the owner or renter thereof. 7

In its briefest definition the present invention consists of a base frame uponv which the house is constructed to a story and a half height with a demountable roof thereonto complete a twostory structure, which base frame is supportedand reinforced by'a chassis haying demountable rear wheels and a detachable and guidable front wheel assembly, said frontzwheel assembly being arranged for attachment to a towing prime mover, such as a truck or tractor for guided transport along the road or highway, all as will be more fully hereinafter described. V

The invention may be widely varied and modified without essential departure therefrom, as one skilled in the art will perceive. In the drawings, I have shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, as one specific embodiment of the invention, a practical type of small portable house which may later be adapted for use as a garage.

In the drawings: I v,

Fig. 1 is a side view of the portable house of the present invention as it appears ready for occu-.

pancy when located on a foundation at a building site, with thedemountable roof in place and the demountable wheels removed;

2 v ,Fig. 21s a frontviewof the same;

, Fig. 3 is an interior view along plane 3 3 of Fig 9-looking towards the front of the house;

Fig. .4 is a framing view illustrating the constructional features of the 'demountable roof;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along plane 5--5 of Fig. 9 illustrating the features of the demountable rear wheels;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view along plane 6-- S of Fig. 3.showi,ng the details of the demountable rear wheels; I V

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view 'taken'along planefflx 1 of Fig.9 illustrating the structural features .of the base or frame of the building and chassis support and reinforcement thereof;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along plane 88 of Fig. 3 illustrating the constructional features of. the second floor of the building.

Fig, 9 is a sectional view along plane 9 9 of. Fig.3,-illustrating the structural features of the base or frame of the building and-the demount-.

, able front 'and'rear wheels thereon;

, vention.

Fig. lois a sectional viewalong one side of the building frame at about the level of plane .|o ;--,|u. of Fig. 3,; Fig. 11. is a sectional view taken at about the level of plane! I-|;l of Fig. 3, showing the frame structureand interior arrangement of the build? 1 j:

Fig. 12 is an enlarged top view of the removable front wheel assembly; v

Fig;. 13 is asectional view .of the same taken along plane l3-I3 of Fig.12;

Fig -14 is a front view of the same; and V I Fig. 15-is a view illustrating the manner of attachment of .the removable front wheel as-; sembly to the chassis and base-frame of the building. 1

As may be noted from the drawings the invention provides a two-story house with a demountable roof and with demountable and :removable front and rear wheels secured to the chassis supporting and reinforcing the. base framevof the house, the front wheels being arranged. for guided towing of the structure bya prime mover, such as a truck. The house frame and the arrangement of, the house interior by partitions, etc., may be widely varied without departure from the in- In its broadest aspect the invention contemplates the provision of a base frame mounted upon and reinforced by a steel chassis to which may be demountably attached or se1 cured rear wheels and guidable front wheels arranged for towing movement of the'basefra-me with house mounted thereon; and for the construction on the base frame of a story and :a

half house complete in substantiallyall details with ademountable roof thereovercompletingthe'second story of the house. ,The shape .of the sewer, and electricity thereto; the securing of the e demountable roof sections in place; and the removing of the demountable wheels; to be ready 1O for occupancy. y

Referring now to the drawings for specific de- Channels CC' at a point rearwardly the front end of the base frame B are each bent inwardly at an angle which, if projected beyond the front end of the base frame B, would bring them together at a point approximating the longitudinal center line of the building, but each channel ,CC terminates a short distance beyond the front end of the base frame B as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The front end of the base frame B is com- "pleted by a construction similar to that details of the invention in Figs.l1 and 2 is shown. the house H with demountable roof R in place seated upon foundation F on the building site ready for occupancy.

In Fig. 3 is shown the interior and structural features of the house H prior to seating the same'upon the foundation F after the demountable roof R has been positioned in place thereon.

Referring now to Fig. 9, which is a view taken along the plane 99 of Fig. 3 at a level just below'the floor the details of the reinforced base frame B upon which the house H is constructed may be noted. 7

The base frame B consists of a rectangular base comprised of wood supported on and reinforcedby steel channel members CC' extending the full length of the base on opposite-sides thereof and'extending beyond the front of the base, at an angle inclined towards each other from a point rearwardly the front of the base, a sufficient distance to permitattachment thereto of the front wheels in a guidable mounting, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

The particular construction of base frame B and the manner of mounting or supporting the same upon steel channel members 'C-C may be Widely varied without essential departure from the invention as one skilled in the art will readily recognize. The essential requirements in this combination is that the base frame B is constructed and reinforced in such a way as -to provide a substantially rigid platform or base upon which the house H may be raised; and that the steel channel -members"C-'C are of such strength and rigidity as to carrythe Weightsof the base B with the house H thereon; and that the manner of attachment of the rear and front wheels thereto shall provide reasonable flexibility or spring action sufiicientto absorb the shocks and vibration incident to transporting the structure over somewhat uneven but not rough ground. v

" These requirements are met in the assembly illustrated. The base frame B consists of an outer frame, the opposite sides of which consist of overlapping beams l-2 (Fig. 7') withthe channels C-C secured to one beam I and supporting the other beam 2 with the normal sill 3 laid on top of the base frame-B and the over lap space between sill 3 and'beam I' being filledchannel C is a 4" channel (4" x 3 X 3") seated in the under overlap of beams l and]? and} bolted to beam l at aplurality of points over'its length; sill 3 is a 2 x 4 beam; and spacer board l'is 1" or 2" x 4".

Channels C--C provide in the desiredparallel spaced relation.

rigid support for the opposite sides of base B and cross-beams 5 ha v-' ing their opposite ends seated Within channels" C C provide means to locate the opposite sides;

scribed above for the opposite sides of the frame, with the front end beam i cut sufficiently to permit the channels 0-0 to extend therethrough. The rear endis completed in any manner s'uit'able to the required strength and appropriate to the purposes desired; and to provide for a door for entry into the building. Flooring joists 5 and 6 are located substantially as indicated in Fig. 9, with the ends thereof carried withinand' supported by the channel members CC insofar as possible and held therein in determined spaced relation by spacer members l0. Floor joists 1-1 on opposite sides of channels 0-0 as the'channels angle inwardly aresupported on beams 89 and 8'9, respectively-which arespiked to the base frame B in proper position.

Such a base frame construction is rigid and of sufficient weight-carrying capacity to support thereon the story and a half structure indicated in Fig. 3. 1

Rear wheels WW are mounted on base frame B to support and carry the base frame B with house H-thereon, preferably in such manner as to be readily demountable, as indicated in Figs. 9, Sand 6. Referring to these figures, it will be seen that each wheel W is a pneumatic tire type wheel having a balloon tire H seated on a rim n forming the periphery of. a disc or other type wheel having a'hub 13 within which is'l'ocated a' roller-bearing l4, through. which extends an axle 15, the opposite ends of which are mounted on'channel C and on cross-beams 16, respectively. r

The particular mounting provided for rear wheels-W'-W may be widely varied without essential departure from the present invention. In the arrangement shown in the drawings, a bearing plate I'l islocated by bolts I8l8 across the open face of channel C in which plate I! is provided a bearing opening through which extends axle l5 into a recess IS in beam 2 of the base frame B. The opposite end of axle I5 is held in position on top of cross-beams'lt by clamp means- 20, substantially as indicated. If desired, channel'C may be filled with a reinforcing filler-bar 2|; This arrangement locates the wheel axle 15 at a horizontal level above the floor f of the base frame B in a position to be readily detached from the base frame B after the base frame has beenlocated in position upon a foundation F, the opening thus left in the floor 1 being closed by a floor panel fitting the opening.

Front wheels W'W are detachably mounted on the extending ends of channels C-C' in an arrangement providing for guided towing of the assembly, substantially as indicated in Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive. Referring to these figures, it will be noted that each extending end of channels C-C' is-provided with a plurality of boltholes 30 aligned horizontally therein. Heavy steel side plates P--P' are provided, each having a' corresponding plurality of bolt-holes 3| aligned horizontally in the bottom area thereof for mounting the plates PP upon the extending ends of channels CC, to form a vertical projection of the channels C-C to a horizontal level just below the bay window E of house H. Channels 32--3'2 are bolted to the upper inside face of plates P--P to reinforce same and to project the channels C---C' to their intersection at the horizontal level of the upper edges of plates P-P' where they are secured together. Crossbar 33 is provided between channels 3232 to prevent lateral spreading of plates PP' and channels 32-32 and to provide a rigid projection of channels C-C'.

Upper and lower bearing plates 3434' are secured in position above and below the forward meeting ends of channels 3232, on which bearing plates are secured bearings 3535 through which extends rotatable shaft S on the off-set end of which shaft S the forward wheels W'--W are rotatably mounted, in bearings 4il40. This arrangement is a typical caster mounting for wheels W'W'. However, the upper end of shaft S is provided with a guide or steering sprocket wheel 36 connected by sprocket chain 31 to hand steering wheel 38 mounted on cross-bar 33 through an opening provided in the bottom of bay window extension E of the house H under which the assembly extends.

Bail 4|, pivotably mounted through openings 42-42' in plates P-P' in channels 3232, is provided to provide for the application of towing power to the forward end of the assembly by some prime mover, such as a truck or tractor, through a link 43.

As hereinabove indicated, the precise house structure constructed on base frame 13 may be widely varied without essential departure from the invention. In the drawings a relatively simple house structure is shown which is essentially one of a story and a half in height provided with a detachable roof R completing the height of the second story. The house H is indicated as having a first floor (Fig. 10) with a large living room and kitchenette and with a stairway 59 going up to the second floor. The second floor is indicated (Fig. 11) as having a large bedroom 5|, a bath 52, and closets 53 and 54. Various alternative floor plan arrangements are possible of the floor space provided without departure from the invention.

For portability along standard roadways in populated areas, such as large civic centers, I have arbitrarily set a dimension limit for the base frame B of 10 feet 6 inches in width and 21 feet inches in length and a story and a half height of 14 feet as being the most practical dimensions. On this size of house H, I provide a demountable roof which when in place adds another feet 6 inches to the height of the building to provide ample headroom over the second story of the building.

The demountable roof R, as indicated in Fig. 4, is preferably built in sections or panels, each adapted to be bolted together to form the complete roof which may be removably secured in position upon the house H. Many different designs of roofs and roof panels are utilizable in the present invention, as one skilled in the art will recognize. Suitable openings 5555 may be provided in the roof R for chimney and sewer vent pipes to extend therethrough. The roof R may be a plain roof or a gabled one as shown in the drawings, without departure from the invention.

To facilitate the setting of the house H in position upon a foundation F, all of the facilities, such as sewer, water, gas and electricity, are arranged to enter the house H at one end and close together so that these connections may be'made with ease by one skilled in the art. Various means for heating the house interior are available and, per se, forms no part of the present invention.

It is believed apparent from the above disclosure that the invention may be widely modified without essential departure from the invention and all such modifications and departures therein are contemplated as may fall within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A portable house comprising in combination, a rectangular base frame, a house structure mounted on said base frame, a chassis supporting and reinforcing opposite sides of said base frame, said chassis extending beyond one end of said base frame, a guidable front wheel assembly demountably secured to the extending end of said chassis, a pair of rear wheels, and means for separately and detchably securing the wheels to the chassis and base frame in transverse alignment under the base frame.

2. A portable house comprising in combination, a rectangular base frame, a house structure mounted on said base frame, a chassis consisting of a pair of metal girders running the length of the base frame adjacent each side thereof and extending beyond one end of the base frame and secured to the underside of the base frame, a guidable front wheel assembly demountably secured to the extending ends of said girders, a pair of rear wheels and means separately and demountably securing the said wheels to the chassis and base frame in transverse alignment.

3. A portable house comprising a rectangular base frame consisting of side and end beams and floor supporting cross-beams, a house structure mounted on said base frame, said structure having a height of one and one-half stories and having a demountable roof, a pair of metal girders secured to the underside of the base frame and to the side beams of the base frame and having a length providing identical lengths thereof extendin beyond one end of the base frame, a guidable front wheel assembly demountably secured to the extending ends of said girders, a pair of rear wheels, and means separately securing the said wheels in transverse alignment said means for each wheel providing a demountable connection to the base frame and to a girder to rollably sustain the base frame and house structure mounted thereon.

CLARENCE WILLIAM KINSMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

